Sanitation device



April 14, J? MONAGHAN SANITATION DEVICE Filed April 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l l NVENTOR Y w M 7 W ATTORNEYS April 14, 1931. J. MONAGHAN SANITATION DEVICE Filed April 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 (w i l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Aprii E4, 1931. J. MONAGHAN SANITATION DEVICE Filed April 7, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NVENTOR BY fizw/ Arro ximsvs a SANITATION DEVICE INVENTOR ATTORNEYS each Gil Patented Apr. 14, 1931 JAMES MONAGHAN, OF ALLEN TOWN, PENNSYLVANIA SANITATION DEVICE Application filed April 27,

This invention relates to sanitation devices and has particular reference to devices for automatically sterilizing articles which are used successively by diiferent persons, so that person may have the use of the article in an absolutely sanitary condition. There are many such articles which are of a permanent nature so that it is impracticable to remove or destroy them after being used each time. Among such articles are toilet seats, wash basins, and the several hospital, dental and barber shop supplies and the like, which are used successively on or by different persons.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a device in which articles of the type described are automatically sterilized after each use and which supplies the next successive user with the article in sterilized condition.

In accordance with this object, the invention comprises a device in which preferably two of the articles to be sterilized are ineluded, one of which may be in use or in position for use while the other is being sterilized or has been sterilized for use. The device includes a sterilizing chamber in which the article not in use is preferably hermetically sealed, and through which are passed hot air, steam or other vapors at sterilizing temperatures, disinfecting gases or liquids, electric heat currents, or the like. In the event that heat is employed to eiiect sterilization of the article, a subsequent cooling is provided to return the article to normal temperatures after sterilization, this cooling being conveniently obtainable by circulating the water usually incidental to the use of the articles contemplated. A mechanism is pro vided which includes manually. operable means whereby the sterilized article may be removed from the sterilizing chamber and placed in position for use and simultaneously with this removal another similar article which has been used is introduced into the chamber. This operation causes the sterilizing mechanism to come into automatic action to sterilize the article then reposing in the chamber while the previously sterilized article is in use or in condition or position 1928. Serial No. 273,225.

for use. In this way a continuous operation is possible, in which the articles are intermittently used and subsequently sterilized, this operation being started by the prospective user either by mechanical, electrical, or electro-mechanical means, depending upon re uirements and conditions of use.

or a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which is particularly illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to the sanitation of toilet seats. The new device may be used on the toilets in clubs, railroad stations, public buildings or the like, and in fact in any place where the toilets are used by a great number of different persons. For public purposes, the device may be made initially operative by a suitable coin-controlled device which may also eiiect the unlocking of a suitable private enclosure, or the coin-controlled device may be available at the option of the user if he desires a sterilized seat for use. lVhile this application of the device of the invention is described in the drawings and will be particularly described herein, it is to be understood that the principles of operation may be applied as well to the sanitation of wash basins such as are provided in public buildings, barber shops, hospitals, or the like, and for the sanitation of many other articles of a similar nature.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a side View of a preferred embodiment of the sanitation device of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, certain parts being shown in section;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section of a portion of the operating mechanism taken along the s;

line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4.- is a cross-section taken along the line 4-4: of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a face view of the sterilization controlling ratchet and pawl as seen along line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a partial section along the line 77 of Fig. 3 showing a differential gearing;

* thehood movement are necessary.

Fig. 8 is a face View of a seat in one of the sterlizing chambers;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the center of the device as seen along the line 99 of Fig. 2;

Fig 10 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line 1010 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken along the line 1111 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal crosssection of the upper spherical gear-case takenalong the line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view showing the seat reversalcontrolling pawl and ratchet mechanism as seen along the line 1313 of Fig. 9; and

- Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram of the preferred electrical connections In the drawings, numeral designates the main body which preferably is in the shape of approximately two-thirds of a sphere, the hood 21 which is hinged to the top of body 20 serving to complete the sphere when the hood liesin position on the main body 20 in the manner illustrated particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 9. The main body 20 is provided with a standard-or'base 22 which is adapted tobe secured in the usual bolt holes provided at the rear of a toilet hopper 23, so that the main body 20 extends upwardly along the wall 24, being braced against the wall by brackets 25. The particular embodiment illustrated isadapted to be-empl'oyed when existing installations are to be converted into automatic sanitary installations. For new work, however, a portion of the mechanism may be sealed in the wall 24, placed in suitable recesses in the wall, or can be made integral with hopper.

In the open or service position hood 21 extends upwardly as shown in phantom in Fig. 1, and a seat 26 rests in position for use on the hopper 23. In order to place the sanitation device in condition for operation it must be previously energized by electricalmeans to be explained subsequently. Assuming that this has been done, the prospective user grasps knob 27 on hood 21 and brings the hood downwardly through an arc of 180. to rest in the face of main body 20. During the movement of the hood, the seat 26 is automatically raised from hopper 23 so as .to be enclosed by the hood when the latter isin the lowered position. The movement of hood 21 causes bevel gear 28, which is connected to the hood, to rotate bevel gear 29, which is secured to vertical shaft 30, causing it to rotate.

Inasmuch as the seat 26 need only move through an arc of 90 during the 180 movement of the hood 21 a 2 to 1 speed reduction is necessary, and in order to avoidinterference between the seat and hood which are moving toward each other, an acceleration of'the seat movement and adeceleration of These tates. t

In order to balance the seat 26 and the hood 21 during. their movements in both directions, springs 38 and 39 are employed. Spring 38 is under tension, one end thereof beingsecured to the main body housing by pin 40, while its other end is connected to cable 41 passing over pin 42- and secured to a crank disc 43 mounted in shaft 30. When the hood 21 is in lowered orraised-positionspring 38 creates no torque in crank disc 43, but in intermediate positions 'ofthe; hood, the spring acts to balance the hood by pulling upon the crank disc 43. The other spring, 39, en circles shaft 35, one end being secured'thereto, while the other end, issecured to rod 44, so thatthe spring 39 is twisted throughan angle of 90 by shaft as the seat 26 is lowered, and is designed to almost balance the seat in its lowered position. T 7.

As the hood21 islowered andthe seat 26 simultaneously raised; the seat it moves. into an annular chamberformed between ,plates of suitable heat insulating materiaL The depressed plate 46 is mounted insideof hood 21 by a curved support 47 and-cooperates with a similar plate 48. on theouter face of-a rotary. carriage .mounted in main body 20 to form thechamber in which-the seat 26 lies. The seat 26 is also heat insulatedand may consist. of a metal frame covered with-a layer of. heatinsulating material. The webs between the depressionsin plates 46 and 48 seal the interior of both the hood 21- and main body 20, soas to prevent tampering and injury. The plates 46 and 48 with their webs are sealed in themainbody when the rotary carriage has moved them into the sterilizing position and they act as bafiies to prevent the steriliz ing'medium from passing to unintended places. 'The rotary carriage includes a frame 49 slidable for rotary motion over the inner surface of the main body housing about the vertical axis of the same. Face plate 48 is secured to frame 49 on one side, while an identical face plate48'is secured to this frame on the opposite side These face plates 48 and 48 form with frame 49 a chamber 50 in which'the aforesaid shafts 30 and 35 and gears 31, 32, 33 and 34 are perand carried by support 47 also identical with support 47. Within the second annular chamber is the second seat 26', so that these parts, which make up the principal portion of the rotary carriage, are duplicated symmetrically about the center-line of the spherical main body 20.

Supports 47 and 47 of insulating face plates 46 and 46, respectively, are each provided with a stem 51 and 51 inserted into segments 52 and 52 of the spherical case which contains the aforesaid bevel gears 28 and 29 which drive the seat-actuating shafts 80 and 35 in the manner described. The sphere is completed by disc 53 while the hinges 54 and 54 of the hood 21 embrace the segments 52 and 52' respectively. As shown particularly in Fig. 12, a circumferential keyway, which is horizontal when the hood lies in top and bottom position, runs around the spherical gear case, this keyway containing the two keys 55 and 55. The hubs of bevel gears 28 and 28 have keyways which coincide with the circumferential keyway. Key 55 engages the keyway in gear 28, while key 55 is offset and does not engage the keyway in gear 28', so that gear 28 rotates gear 29 and vertical shaft 30 as the hood 21 is moved, since 55 engages with 54.

In a similar way, the seats 26 and 26 are provided with respective stems 56 and 56 inserted in segments 57 and 57 of the lower spherical gear case. A disc 60 completes the sphere, this disc lying between the segments 57 and 57. A circumferential keyway is horizontal when the seat 26 lies in its top position only. Two keys, the one shown, 58, being continuous and lying in the keyway in the hub of bevel gear 37, so that it is rotated by bevel gear 36 to actuate the seat 26. The bevel gear 37 is not keyed and is individual to segment 57 in which the spare seat 26 is inserted so that no movement is imparted to this seat.

The mechanism for initiating the operation of the mechanism is preferably energized electrically by pressure on an electrical contact button. This energizes magnet 61, shown in Figs. 9 and 13, which draws arma ture 62 to the right about shaft 63 as shown, this armature carrying the two pawl stops 64 and 65 which are not in the same vertical plane. The stops alternately engage the sin gle tooth on each of the two discs 66 and 67, respectively. These stops release and stop the rotation through 180 of equal bevel gears 68 and 69, the former being mounted with discs 66 and 67 on power shaft 70, which provides the driving power for rotating the rotary carriage containing the seats 26 and 26, this power being transmitted from bevel gear 69 to disc 60 of the lower spherical gear case. Power shaft 70 is driven by spiral gears 71 and 72, the former being integral with shaft 70 and the latter being integral with shaft 73,

which is driven by a directly-c0nnected flexible shaft 74 shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5 as emerging from the power unit which is preferably secured to the floor behind the hopper 23 and under the main body 20.

In this power unit, 75 designates an electrical motor of conventional form, which drives the short worm spindle 76 which meshes with and drives worm wheel 77, as shown in Fig. 3, this driving mechanism being arranged to give a large speed reduction. lVorm wheel 77 is keyed on spindle 78 about which is coiled the spiral spring 79, which is wound up by rotation of spindle 78 by action of the motor 75. the rotary carriage described above, for the purpose of reversing the seats 26 and 26.

Spindle 78 is provided with a keyway in which key 80 rests when spring 79 is being wound, this key being secured in a carrier 81 of generally rectangular cross-section, this carrier being slidable in a slot in spring driver 82, which is mounted on a square sleeve 83 containing spindle 78, as shown particularly in Fig. 5. Spindle 78 rotates within sleeve 88 and spring 78 is wound around this sleeve, the outer end of the spring being suitably secured to spring drum 84 which carries a band 85 having a wedge-shaped key release 86 projecting through the drum 84. This key release 86 cooperates with a correspondin wedge-shaped projection on the outside of'carrier 81 as shown in Fig. 5. Compression spring 87 within carrier 81 holds key 80 in engagement with spindle 78 when the spring 79 is being wound. As the spring 79 is being wound, elements 77 to 83, inclusive, also 87, all rotate as a unit, and when spring 79 has been wound to the proper degree, carrier 81 engages key release 86, which, by its wedging action, moves carrier 81 to with draw its key 80 from spindle 78. The spring driver 82 which contains carrier 81 has ratchet teeth which engage with 82', thus preventing the spring from unwinding when key 80 is released. The spring 79 is preferably so designed that one winding will suffice for a number of movements, say five, each of these movements being 72 so that the spring moves through 360 for each winding. Each time that the spring has supplied power, the key 80 is free to engage spindle 78, and so the spring driver 82 follows up the spring drum 84 after each release thereof. Spindle 84 fastened to 84, passes through the housing 88 to the main switch contained in casing 111, and which will be explained later.

Spring drum 84 carries integral spur gear 117 which meshes with gear 118 forming a housing for the differential gearing shown in Fig. 7. This differential gearing includes two equal planetary bevels 119 and 120 which are mounted on fixture 121. Bevels 119 and 120 mesh with other equal bevels 122 and 123 on either side of fixture 121, bevel 122 being This spring is used to drive free on spindle124 and bevel 123 being keyed thereon. As the ratio of spur gear 118'to drum gear 117 is chosen such that the former rotates 90 when drum gear rotates 72, and as the bevel 122 is free it will rotate through 180, and as this bevel 122 is'directly connected to bevel 125 which meshes with bevel 89 of flexible shaft 74, it follows that the flexible shaft will also rotate 180.

Spindle 124 carries, at its free end, a crank disc 90 connected to cable 91 wound around shaft 92, and as the spindle rotates 180 intermittently, shaft 92 by its dampers 93 and 94 alternately opens and closes chamber 95 containing an electric heater, and chamber 96 containing cooling coils in which cool water is circulated, this water being preferably that which is subsequently used to flush the hopper 23. In this way the air circulated by suction fan 96 is either heated or cooled, depending upon the position of dampers 93 and 94. In order to secure the 180 rotation of the dampers when desired, an armature 97'fiX8Cl on shaft 98 is mounted to pivot between magnets 99, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the construction being similar to that described in connection with Fig. 13. Shaft 98 carries locking pawls 100 and 101 which each engage a stop on discs 102 and 103, these stops limiting the movement of damper driving spindle 124 to 180. Torsion spring 92 wound around damper shaft 92 and fastened to the enclosure serves to keep the cable 91. in tension.

, The energization of magnets 99 will be explained later. Connected to either heater chamber 95 or cooler chamber 96, according to the position of dampers 93 and 94, and to the fan chamber 96 is pressure tube 104 which communicates with the rearmost annular chamber, i. e., either chamber 45 or 45', depending upon the position of the rotary carriage. As illustrated chamber 45' is in position to be. connected to pressure tube 104, and the arrangement is shown in Fig. 8. On the opposite side of the device is suction tube 105 connected to suction chamher 106 also communicating with annular chamber 45 andheater and cooler chambers 95gand 96 respectively. The circulation of the hotand cold airv takes place as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. Suction chamber 106 is provided with an air check valve 116 whose operation will be explained later. At one side of main body 20 and communicating with suction tube 105 is a thermostat chamber 107, the cap of the chamber being provided with a thermometer'108disposed at an angle of 45 for convenient observation. A flexible metal pipe 109 between the power unit' on the floor and the main body 20 serves as a conduit for electrical wires.

The electrical diagram shown in Fig. 14 will be described in explaining the operation of the device. Assuming that the device is coin-controlled, and that access to the toilet chamber must be obtained by depositing a coin, the act of dropping the coin in a slot automatically unlocks the door to the chamber and completes an electrical circuit which places the device in condition for operation. As a second alternative the coin may merely actuate the switch for placing the device in condition for operation. Both of such arrangements are well-known in the art and need not be further described. 7

In the event that the device is not to be coin-controlled, an arrangement such as that illustrated in Fig. 14 may be employed. Pressure on button 110 actuatesthe seat release magnets 61, throwing the armature 62 to the opposite position shown in Fig. 13, whereby pawl 64 releases disc 66, while pawl 65 is placed in readiness to stop disc 67 after it rotates 180. Assuming that hood 21 is in raised position, the user grasps knob 27 and swings the hood downwardly upon main body 20, which movement raises seat 26 from hopper 23 and introduces the seat in annular chamber 45 then formed by the engagement of face plates 46 and 48.

Upon this first movement of the hood 21 into lowermost position on body 20, theretary carriage immediately rotates through 180, reversing the seats. This reversal is accomplished by spring 79 previously described, and when this reversal takes place, spherical gear case 5252 rotates so that bevel gear 28 is released from the circumferential key, while gear 28 is connected thereto, thus connecting plate 46 and its attendant parts to hood 21. The'same thing takes place in the lower gear case 57 -57 in which the circumferential key connects bevel 37' and consequently seat 26 to shaft 35, and simultaneously disconnects seat 26.

The rotation of spring 79 through an angle of 72 to produce a 180 rotation of the seat containing carriage moves main switch 112, contained in casing 111 and mounted on spring drum shaft 84, through a corresponding angle of 72 to make contact with contact No. 1. This actuates an indicator 113 at the starting button 110 to show that the cycle of operation has begun, and actuates the magnet 99 of the damper control mechanism thus releasing pawl 101 from disc 102 so that shaft 124, also driven by the spring 79, may move through 180 before it is stopped by the engagement of pawl 100 with the stop on disc 103. i i

The reversal of the seats reversed switch 114 on shaft 73 whereby magnet 61 is reset to return the pawl mechanism to the position shown in Fig. 13 in readiness for the next operation. The movement of shaft 124 moves dampers 93 and 94 from the ports of heater 95 where they were placed at the end of the previous cycle. In rotating the dampers 93 and 94, the spring 79 rotated through a second angle of 72, so that switch 112 now rests on contact No. 2, which places electric motor 75 and electricv heater 95 into operation. The fan 96 is set in motion and hot air at sterilizing temperatures is forced through chamber 45 which is now occupying the position of chamber 45 in the drawing. When the air circulating many times per second through this chamber reaches a predetermined high temperature, thermostat 115 in chamber 107 acts to close the circuit through damper magnet 99, whereupon the dampers 93 and 94 are again rotated through 180 to close off heater 95 and expose cooler 96. This necessitates action by the spring 79 through another 72 angle to bring switch 112 to rest on contact No. 3. Referring to the Fig. 14, it is seen that this shuts off heater 95 and reeonnects motor 75, so that cool air is circulated from water-cooled chamber 96 through chamber 45 whereby the seat 26 is brought to a comfortable temperature. This cooling action again operates thermostat 115 to close the low-temperature circuit in series with magnet 99 to reset pawls 100 and 101, thusallowing spring 79 to again rotate through the next 72 to contact No. 4, which shuts off motor 75 and returns indicator 113 to initial position while at the same time magnet 99 is actuated to allow spring 79 to move switch 112 to zero position. 7

During the action of the motor 75, spring 79 is rewound in the manner described. During the heating and cooling action the temperature range may be observed by the thermometer 108 mounted at the side of the main body 20 on the thermostat housing 107. During the heating action the air naturally increases in pressure, and the excess air at higher pressure than is necessary blows out through check valve 116 in suction chamber 106, so that during cooling a partial vacuum is formed which prevents condensation, so that a dry seat is always assured.

Seat 26 is now in sterilized condition, and as the hood 21 has been left in raised position by the previous user, the motion of the hood downward and up again immediately reverses the chambers 45 and 45, removes seat 26 and places seat 26 in position for use. The cycle described then takes place to sterilize seat 26 while seat 26' is in use. As pointed out the electrical connections are energized by pressing button 110 or by the dropping of a coin, the opening of a door, or any other equivalent or alternative means or mechanism. Likewise, other equivalent sterilizing mediums may be employed instead of hot air, and among these other mediums are steam, which may also be employed to actuate the mechanism in place of the motor, gaseous products of combustion, refrigerated air, gases having sterilizing properties, disinfecting material entrained in air, the surfaces of the seats may be associated with electric heating units which perform the sterilizing action, and the like. Similarly, the power may be supplied by steam, by pressure of the water used in the operation of the toilet, by compressed air, or the like.

There are many other obvious alternative constructions, such as the use of a timing device in place of the thermostat, especially when steam is used as a sterilizer, an oil or gas fuel or steam heater in place of the electric heater, and the like.

It will be seen that the sanitation device of this invention is very efficient for the purpose intended, fully automatic, fool-proof, and safe in that there are no recesses in which fingers or other obstructions can be placed nor any excessively heated portion exposed so that burns cannot possibly result from use of the device. The device may be placed on existing installations without alteration, except in some installations using a low flush tank, where the tank must be raised to accommodate the main body and its associated parts. As pointed out before, in new installations much of the mechanism may be inserted in the wall or made integral with the hopper. It is not necessary that the sanitation mechanism be placed into operation in order to use the toilet, but the sanitary feature is available to those desiring it, a seat being always ready for use by manipuating the hood when the sanitary seat is not re quired.

While the sanitation device has been described in association with a toilet, it may be modified within the invention to perform the sterilization of many articles which are used on or by a number of different persons. For example, a pair of wash basins may replace the seats and hot, soapy water or disinfectant liquid may be sprayed against the used surface of the basin in the sterilizing chamber while the other basin is in use. As in the folding basins used on shipboard the Water in the used basin may flow into a funnel placed at the rear thereof when the used basin is lifted upwardly to be enclosed by the hood.

Similarly the seats may be replaced by trays upon which instruments used in surgery, dentistry, hospitals, barber shops and the like, may be secured, so that when the hood is actuated a sterile second set of instruments is presented for use while the used first set is being sterilized. Obviously there are many other applications of the mechanism and device of this invention and it is to be understood that the new device is not limited to the particular embodiments il lustrated and described, but is susceptible of many applications and variations within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for sterilizing a plurality of articles, the 'co'mbination of a plurality of chambers for containing the articles, manua1 means for opening'and closing one of the chambers for replacement of a used article,

motive means rendered operative by said first means for removing the closed chamber and presenting another chamber, and means controlled by one of said means for sterilizing theused article, said'manual means being operative to remove the article from said other chamber;

2. In a sanitation device, the combination of a rotary carriage having at least tWo chambers,'an article adapted to be contained in each'chamber, manually-operable means for opening and closing one chamber for the removal and replacement of the article, means rendered operative by closing that chamber for reversing the carriage, and mechanism rendered operative by the reversing movement ofthe carriage for sterilizingthe used article in the chamber.

" 3. In a sanitationdevice, the combinationof a rotary carriage having at least two chambers, an article adapted to'be contained in each. chamber, manually-operable means for opening and closing one chamber for the removal and replacement of the article, means rendered operative by closing that chamber for reversing the carriage, and mechanism rendered-operative by the reversing movement of the carriage for sterilizing the used article in the chamber, said manually-operable means being actuable to also open and close the second chamber.

, 4. In a sanitationdevice, the combination of a rotary carriage, a face plate on opposite sides of the carriage, a corresponding second face plate cooperating with each of said first-named plates to form chambers, an article in each ofsaid chambers, means for moving one of said'secon-d plates to open and close the chamber formed thereby for the removal and replacement of the article therein, mechanism for rotating'the carriage to reverse the positions of the chambers, and means for sterilizing the article in the first chamber. a v

5. In a sanitation device, the combination of a rotary carriage, a face plate on opposite sides of the carriage, a correspondin second faceplate cooperating With each of said first-named plates to form chambers, an article in each ofsaid chambers, means for moving one of said second plates to open and close the chamber formed thereby, mechanism controlled by saidlmeans for automatically removing and replacing the article in that chamber, mechanism for rotating the carriage to reverse thepositions of-the chambers, and means for sterilizing the article in the first chamber.

6. In a sanitation device, the combination of a rotarycarriage, a face plate on opposite sides 5 of the carriage, a correspondingvsecond face plate cooperating with each of said first named plates to form chambers, an article in each of said chambers, means for moving one of said second plates to open and close the chamber formed thereby for the removal and: replacement of the article therein, mechanism rendered operative by the closing of that chamber for automatically rotating the carriage to reverse the positions ofthe chambers, and means for sterilizing the article in the first chamber. V

7. In a sanitation device, the combination of a rotary carriage, a face plate on opposite sides of the carriage, a corresponding second face plate cooperating With each of said firstnamed plates to form chambers, an article in each of said chambers, means for moving one of said second plates to open and close the chamber formed thereby, mechanism controlled by said means for automatically removing and replacing the article in that chamber, mechanism rendered operative by the closing of that chamber for automatically rotating the carriage to reverse the positions of the chambers, and means for sterilizing the article in the firstchamber.

8. In a sanitation device, the combination of a rotary carriage, a face'plateon opposite sides of the carriage, a corresponding second face plate cooperating With each of said firstnamed plates to form chambers, anarticle in each of said chambers, means for moving one of said second plates to open and close the chamber formed thereby for theremoval and replacement of the article therein, mechanism for rotating the carriage to reverse the positions of the chambers, devices locking both pairs of first and second plates together during rotation of the carriage, said locking devices being released for the scond chamber to render said means operativaand means for sterilizing the article in the first chamber.

9. In a sanitation device, the combination of a rotary carriage, a face plate on opposite sides of the carriage, a corresponding second face plate cooperating With each of said firstnamed plates to form chambers, an article in each of-said chambers, means for moving one of said second plates to open and close the chamber formedithereby for the removal and replacement of the article therein, a remote control device, mechanism rendered jointly operative by the closing of the first chamber and by the control device for automatically rotating the carriage to reverse the positions of the chambers, and mechanism rendered operative by the rotationlof the carriage for circulating a sterilizing medium through the secondachamber to sterilize the article therein. I

.10; In a sanitation device, the combination of 'a'rotary carriag'e,a face plate on opposite sides of the carriage, a corresponding'second face plate cooperatingwitheach of said firstnamed plates'to form chambers, an articlejn each of said chambers, means for moving one of said second plates to open and close the chamber formed thereby, mechanism controlled by said means for automatically removing and replacing the article in that chamber, a remote control device, mechanism rendered jointly operative by the closing of the first chamber and by the control device for automatically rotating the carriage to reverse the positions of the chambers, and mechanism rendered operative by the rotation of the carriage for circulating a sterilizing medium through the second chamber to sterilize the article therein.

11. A device for sterilizing toilet seats, which comprises a housing mounted adjacent a toilet hopper, a rotary carriage therein having a pair of chambers, a seat contained in each chamber, means for opening the front chamber to automatically place the seat in position on the hopper, said means being operative to close and simultaneously replace the seat in the chamber after use, mechanism rendered operative by the closing of the chamber to rotate the carriage and reverse the positions of the chambers, and mechanism rendered operative by the rotation of the carriage for circulating a sterilizing medium through the first chamber for sterilizing the used seat therein, said second chamber and seat being in position for use upon operation of the first-named means.

12. A device for sterilizing toilet seats, which comprises a housing mounted adjacent a toilet hopper, a rotary carriage therein having a pair of chambers, a seat contained in each chamber, means for opening the front chamber to automatically place the seat in position on the hopper, said means being operative to close and simultaneously replace the seat in the chamber after use, mechanism rendered operative by the closing of the chamber to rotate the carriage and reverse the positions of the chambers, and mechanism rendered operative by the rotation of the carriage for first circulating a hot sterilizing medium through the first chamber for sterilizing the seat therein and then circulating a cooling medium for cooling the seat after sterilization, said second seat being in position for use by operating said first-named means.

13. In a device for sterilizing a plurality of articles, the combination of a rotary carriage, a housing therefor having an opening, at least two articles pivoted at spaced points on said carriage, means for rotating said carriage to present one of the articles to the opening of said housing for use, and means for sterilizing the other article remaining within the housing.

14. In a device for sterilizing a plurality of articles, the combination of a rotary carriage, a housing therefor having an opening, at least two articles pivoted at spaced points on said carriage, means for rotating said carriage to present one of the articles to the opening of said housing for use, an enclosure for the other article located within said housing, and means for sterilizing said other article in said enclosure.

15. In a device for sterilizing a plurality of articles, the combination of a rotary carriage, a housing therefor having an opening, at least two articles pivoted at spaced points on said carriage, means for rotating said carriage to present one of the articles to the opening of said housing for use, means for circulating a heated sterilizing medium around the other article remaining within the housing, and means operating after said last-named means for circulating a cooling medium around the said article remaining in said housing.

16. In a device for sterilizing a plurality of articles, the combination of a rotary carriage, a housing therefor having an opening, at least two articles pivoted at spaced points on said carriage, means for rotating said can riage to present one of the articles to the opening of said housing for use, and means rendered effective by said last named means for sterilizing the other article remaining in said housing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES MONAGHAN. 

